New Delhi : In an attempt to offer free WiFi worldwide, a Chinese internet technology firm is planning to launch a constellation of 272 satellites by 2026. The company is all set to challenge the rival global tech giants like Google and SpaceX.

The company, LinkSure Network, founded in Shanghai in 2013, markets itself as a global innovative mobile internet company specialising in free internet access, content and location-based services on its official website. Recently, it unveiled its first satellite in the constellation plan.

"The satellite will be launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Northwest China's Gansu province next year, and by 2020 there will be 10 satellites in space," the state-run China Daily

The company states that it will launch 272 satellites by 2026. Therefore, people could use their mobile phones to search for internet services provided by the constellation and browse the internet, even in regions where telecom networks do not cover.

Wang Jingying, CEO of LinkSure Network, said the company will invest 3 billion yuan (USD 431.4 million) into the plan.

Also, Jingying hopes that through different scenarios, applications and modes, the company could earn in the future.

As per the collected information from the United Nations, there were still 3.9 billion people not connected to the internet. The diversity and complexity of geomorphology stand as a barrier for telecom networks

Meanwhile, China is building the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), stated to be a rival to the US' Global Positioning System (GPS).

It is believed to be the fourth global satellite navigation system after the US GPS system, Russia's GLONASS and the European Union's Galileo. India too is building its navigational system called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC.